WHS Capstone Course

Surveys

Do You Need to Survey?

Again, a survey is NOT a real-world application.

It is an EXTENSION of RESEARCH.

Not every project needs a survey.

In fact, only about 25% of projects on average would benefit from original survey data.

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Do You Need to Survey?

When trying to decide whether or not you need one, ask yourself these questions:

1. Can I find better data somewhere else online?
2. Am I going to learn something new from the data I collect?
3. What will I do with this data I collect?
4. Would the questions be better as a pre-test/post-test to a targeted audience?

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Designing a Survey

• Surveys should be short, no more than 10 questions
• Limit the number of open response questions (use multiple choice or rating scales)
• Make sure your questions are not leading to a specific answer (bias)
• Example (Bad): Most students have difficulty getting up in the morning, would you prefer a later school start time? Y or N
• Example (Good): 1) What time do you get up in the morning to get to school? 2) On a scale from 1-10, how difficult is it for you to get up at that time? 1-Easy, 10-Difficult

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Designing a Survey

• The sample audience for the survey should be as large and random as possible while still being meaningful
• Example (Bad): If you are surveying students about AP classes, you cannot just survey the AP classes you are in.
• Example (Good): If you are surveying students about AP classes, you should survey either a random sample of juniors and seniors (typically by HR is best as it is alphabetical) or all juniors and seniors.
• The sample size should be large, depending on your question, a minimum of 50-100 responses is preferred

Survey Procedures

1. All surveys must be anonymous and voluntary, this includes online surveys
• For example, when using a Google Form you need to change the settings so that it is public on the web and that you are not collecting email addresses (you have to uncheck this box before sharing).
• At the top of each survey should say, “This survey is for the completion of a Capstone project. It is anonymous and voluntary. You may opt out at any time.”
2. Students can opt out of completing a survey at any time

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Survey Procedures

3. No surveys will be approved after 2/5/21, so get them

done early

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4. All survey drafts must be submitted to your advisor, who

will then will submit them to the Capstone Chair for review

before distributing

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Survey vs. Pre-test/Post-test

• A survey typically goes out to a random sample
• A pre-test and post-test typically go to a specific audience that you have worked with (taught a lesson, did a workshop, etc.)
• One of the most important pieces of evidence to measure your impact is to do a pre- and post-test of the same or similar questions

Ex. You teach a few lessons on different days about endangered species to a

middle school class. You assess what they know already on day 1 and then give them a post-test on the last day. This is how you measure what they learned from you.

Analyzing the Data

• Remember, whether it is a survey or pre-test/post-test data, it must be analyzed to give it meaning
• First turn your data into numbers (count responses), then convert them into percentages
• Make comparisons, look for correlations and trends
• Graph your data (make sure you choose the right type) using Excel or Google Sheets

To Survey or Not to Survey

Good Examples

A survey of Chapman students’ concerns about coming to WHS

A survey about students’ cell phone usage, which apps, etc.

A survey about students’ perceptions about how masculinity is represented in the media

**Typically ask about opinions or behaviors.**

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Bad Examples

A survey about vaccination rates in Weymouth

A survey to teenagers about wanting to start a business

A survey about how many students are taking AP classes

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**Typically try to solicit known or factual information.**

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Next Steps

• If you would like to do a survey, write it ASAP and submit it to your advisor
• The deadline to complete surveys is 2/5/21